KUCHING, Sept 14: Australia-based Element 25 Ptd Ltd’s top executives are currently here to conduct a feasibility study on the production of high purity manganese sulphate (HPMSM) for lithium-ion batteries in Sarawak.
Their visit was following its proposal to the Sarawak government to invest A$300 million to A$400 million in a HPMSM manufacturing plant project in Sarawak during a roundtable networking session in Perth, Australia in July which was attended by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and his delegation as well as the Australian Malaysia Business Chamber Western Australia.
According to a statement, Element 25 development manager Neil Graham and country advisor Azli Mohd Zin had met Awang Tengah to further discuss the proposal at the latter’s office in Wisma Sumber Alam today.
Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment, acknowledged that Malaysia including Sarawak is attracting interests in the electric vehicles (EVs) sector where there is already a copper foil producer in Kuching.
In fact in May this year, Element 25 managing director Justin Brown had met Awang Tengah to express the company’s interest to invest in the HPMSM manufacturing project.
Element 25 is the operator of the Butcherbird manganese project, which hosts a resource of more than 263 tonnes of manganese ore.
The company recorded its first commercial shipment of manganese concentrate in July 2021, according to the company’s 2021 annual report.
Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, the Ministry’s permanent secretary Dzulkornain Masron, senior government officials from Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Petros, Sarawak Energy, Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and Samalaju Port were among those present. — DayakDaily
